An experimental study on the annual surface temperature characteristics of amorphous silicon BIPV window

In this study, a mock-up facility equipped with both BIPV windows and normal clear windows was installed to carry out the actual measurement of long-term surface temperature characteristics as the preliminary step for analyzing the impact of the surface temperature rise of thin film BIPV modules on the PV performance. The measurement was carried out for clear double windows and BIPV double windows simultaneously for each inclined angle (0°, 30°, and 90°) for one year, and various statistical analyses were carried out for the collected annual surface temperature data to investigate the surface temperature characteristics of BIPV windows. The analysis result shows that the temperature of windows applied on the vertical plane rises significantly during the winter season, and the temperature of windows applied on the horizontal plane and the inclined plane rises significantly during the summer season with high solar altitude. Regarding indoor surface temperature of windows which is closely related with the thermal comfort of indoor occupants, the surface temperature of BIPV windows with low solar heat gain coefficient was 1 °C lower than that of normal windows during the day time in summer season and was approximately 2 °C higher during the night time in winter season due to the thermal insulation effect.

► BIPV temperature applied on the vertical plane rises significantly during the winter season.
► BIPV temperature applied on horizontal and inclined planes rises significantly in summer.
► BIPV indoor surface temperature was 1 °C lower than normal windows in summer.
► BIPV surface temperature was 2 °C higher during night time in winter due to thermal insulation.